Penney's Catalog Store Is Back In Business

"Location, location, location" has long been the mantra of the real estate business. But as it turns out, it applies to the J.C. Penney's Catalog Store, too.

Formerly a Main Street mainstay, the store was recently purchased by Rick Hill and moved into his existing business, Rim Country Outfitters, in the Rim Country Mall.

"This was one of the smartest and best things I've done," said Hill, who started taking catalog orders May 20. "We were busy right out of the gate, and there's been a steady increase in customers since we opened."

Everything that was available through the old store which includes virtually everything one could find in a fully-stocked, big-city J.C. Penney's department store is available through the chain's catalog, Hill said. And some of those items will actually be in stock.

"The only difference is that we're not going to have any appliances right here in the store, since those are available right next door at Sears," he said. "You can order them through us, but we won't keep them in stock."

Although Sears and Penney's are competitors in major markets, the two stores share a symbiotic relationship in the Rim Country Mall, Hill said.

"We compliment each other, because while they have appliances and tools, we have clothes, baby clothes, wedding apparel, work clothes, curtains, things like that. It works out well for both of us," he said.

Deliveries take about five work days after an order is made, Hill said, and merchandise arrives every Monday, Wednesday and Friday

"You're paying the same price as you would in the Valley," he said. "In fact, the catalog prices are a little bit lower than the store prices, because the stores tack on the shipping and handling charges. Our customers get a break by picking up their order here rather than having it delivered directly to their homes."

The J.C. Penney's Catalog Store is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays. For more information, call (928) 474-9680.